Rotatable cleaning tool



De'c. 3o, 195s M. w. WHITE ETAL 2,866,212

ROTATABLE CLEANING TooL Filed April 22, 1955 INVENToRs lA/.00M E. HMI/(LE MAUR/0E WH/ 7' E WILL/AM Il". BRWN/NG ATTORNY United States Patent O 2,866,212 RoTArABLE CLEANING TooL Maurice William White, William Ray Browning, and Malcolm E. Hinkle, Pampa, Tex.

Application April 22, 1955, Serial No. 503,054 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-88) This invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning tubular articles such as pipe fittings orthe like; and it particularly relates to a cleaning device of the rotatablebrush type which is capable of cleaning both the internal and external surfaces of a tubular article.

Heretofore, it was necessary, when cleaning a pipe fitting or the like, to mount the workpiece on a separate support for maintaining the workpiece in operative relation to the tool. Such supports were' generally heavy and bulky, as well as being relatively expensive, and made the cleaning operation an arduous and expensive affair. Furthermore, the tool was generally adapted to clean either only the interior or only the exterior of a tubular article. In addition, the tool was complicated and difficult to operate and maintain, as well as to store.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device for tubular articles which does not necessarily require a separate work support.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device which is equally capable of cleaning both the internal and external surfaces of a tubular article.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device for tubular articles which is light and compact, yet capable of providing a thorough cleaning of the article.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved cleaning device, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly eiicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a device embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the device of Fig. 1 showing it in position to clean the internal surface of a tubular workpiece.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 3, but showing the device in position to clean the external surface of the workpiece.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a cleaning device, generally indicated at 10, which comprises an electric motor 12 having a hand grip 14 and connected to a source of electrical energy through cable 16. A shaft 18, which is illustrated as being rigid, although it may also be flexible, depending on the use to which the tool is to be put, is connected at one end to the motor shaft by means of a chuck 20. At its opposite end, the shaft 18 is connected to a spindle 22 through a threaded coupling indicated at 24. On the spindle 22 is positioned a cylindrical brush 26, this brush being maintained in fixed position by means of a nut 27.

The brush 26 may be constructed of any suitable material depending on the use to which it is to be put and the material of which the workpiece is made; preferably, howing ring assembly 30 is rotatably swiveled and supported on the shaft 18. The ears 32 of the yoke 28, however, extend above the shaft 18 and provide a hinged support for a spindle 36. The hinge connection is formed by a pin, bolt, rivet, or the like, indicated at'38, which is connected, at either end, to one of the ears 32, and passes through a suitable aperture in the end of spindle 36 positioned between the ears 32. A torsion spring 40 acts to bias the spindle36 toward the spindle 22.

Rotatably mounted on the spindle 36 is a positioning roller 42. This positioning roller is held in position by a cotter pin or the like, indicated at 43, and is preferably constructed of a somewhat shorter axial length than the brush 26. This roller is made of any suitable material, depending on its use; preferably, however, it is constructed of either bronze, brass, or Bakelite when the workpiece is made of copper or brass.

In operation, when it is desired to clean the internal surface of a tubular article, such as indicated at 44 in Fig. 3, the brush 26 is inserted into the workpiece and the positioning roller 42 is rst pivoted upward to clear the workpiece as the brush is inserted, and then released to permit the spring 40 to bring it into contact with the external surface of the workpiece, as indicated in Fig. 3. Then, as the brush 26 rotates within the workpiece 44, the positioning roller 42 acts against the outside of the workpiece 44 to position the brush against the inside of thereof, irrespective of whether the diameter of the work piece is equal to or greater than that of the brush.

In Fig. 4, the device is shown in use to clean the external surface of the tubular article 44. Here, the positioning roller 42 is inserted into the workpiece to act as an internal rotatable positioning support while the brush operates on the external surface of the article.

In both the internal and external cleaning operations, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, it should be noted that the workpiece is, in a manner, positioned between the brush 26 and roller 42 to maintain the brush 26 in operative position.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

l. A cleaning device comprising a rotatable cleaning tool, means to rotate said tool, and a positioning roller operatively connected to said tool, said roller being resiliently urged into a position wherein the axis of rotation thereof is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said tool, and means to pivot said roller away from said position, said positioning roller being mounted for rotation on a shaft which is hingedly connected on a swivel mounting on the drive shaft of said tool.

2. A cleaning device comprising a rotatable cylindrical brush connected to the drive shaft of an electric motor, a yoke positioned on said drive shaft between said motor and said tool, said drive shaft being rotatable relative to said yoke, a spindle hingedly connected to said yoke, a positioning roller mounted for rotation on said spindle,

and means for resiliently urging said roller toward said cylindrical brush, the axis of said positioning roller being normally substantially parallel to the axis of said brush. i

3. A cleaning tool comprising an electric motor, a drive shaft extending from said motor, a tool supporting spindle connected to said drive shaft, a cylindrical brush mounted on said spindle, a yoke on said drive shaft, a ball bearing assembly positioned between said drive shaft and said yoke, said drive shaft being rotatable relative to said yoke, a roller supporting spindle hingedly connected to said yoke, a cylindrical positioning roller mounted for rotation on said roller supporting spindle,

and means for biasing said positioning roller into parallelism with said brush.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 583,283 Donally May 25, 1897 653,703 Scott et al July 17, 1900 1,144,734 Shaw et al. June 29, 1915 1,749,822 Lakeman Mar. 11, 1930 1,871,798 King Aug. 16, 1932 1,889,838 Norman Dec. 6, 1932 2,305,079 Heldenbrand Dec. 15, 1942 2,345,294 Schaufer Mar. 28, 1944 

